PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 24: South Eastern Railway (SER) is building a new, state-of-the-art railway bridge over the Rupnarayan River to replace the 125-year-old Kolaghat Bridge in the busy Howrah–Kharagpur section.
The project aims to enhance safety, improve line capacity and smoothen train operations on one of eastern India’s most critical rail corridors.
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The existing 804-metre-long steel girder bridge, commissioned in 1900, has completed its codal life, leading to speed restrictions and operational limitations.
At present, freight and most Mail/Express trains are barred from the Down Main line, forcing nearly all Down-direction trains to use the Middle line and causing congestion and delays.
The new bridge, being built at a cost of Rs 481.11 crore, will carry the Down Main and Middle lines and feature modern composite and open web girder structures along with viaducts.
Redevelopment of Kolaghat station with elevated platforms is also part of the project.
The bridge is scheduled to be commissioned by end-2027 and will serve for at least the next 100 years.
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Once operational, the bridge will eliminate the existing bottleneck, allow smoother movement of long-distance, suburban and freight trains, and improve punctuality.
Passengers travelling from Tatanagar towards Howrah, Kolkata and other eastern destinations will benefit from faster, more reliable services and reduced delays, making journeys safer and more comfortable.
